The optometry profession in Arkansas may be expanding soon. State Rep. Jon Eubanks filed HB1251 which would move to widen the scope of practice for the profession of optometry.
The bill would allow optometrists on a limited basis to expand their scope of practice into areas which they are already being trained to do. Surrounding states like Oklahoma and Lousiana have filed or already passed similar legislation.
The bill however is facing opposition from Ophthalmologists in the state who feel that this is an encroachment on their own profession.
According to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology, an ophthalmologist is a doctor specialized in eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists differ from optometrists and opticians in their levels of training and in what they can diagnose and treat.
Optometrists provide fundamental vision care like sight testing and correction to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of vision changes and are not medical doctors.
State Rep. Jon Eubanks represents District 74, which is encompasses a large portion of Central Arkansas. He is serving his fifth term in the Arkansas House of Representatives.
Watch an interview with State Rep. Jon Eubanks on Conduit News Radio here:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYXqnEB09bg[/embedyt]
